Organizational Communication a

1. COLLABORATIVE
HEALTHCARE AND THE
SYSTEM APPROACH
By: Emily Gilbert

2. WHAT IS
COLLABORATIVE
HEALTHCARE?
According to
Nursingworld.org,
Collaborative health care
is a committed partnership
that strives for excellence
in patient care and
outcomes.”

3. WHAT IS
COLLABORATIVE
HEALTHCARE?
Health clinics that utilize
collaborative health, often
called “health homes”, is a
healthcare workplace were
physicians, nurses, social
workers and other health
professionals work as a
team to provide the best
possible care.

4. COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE:
“IN-ACTION”
• Collaborative Healthcare is a fairly new
approach to healthcare
• In this specific article, Amanda
Pannacci explores the collaborative
health clinic at the Community Wellness
Centre in Spryfield in Nova Scotia,
Canada

5. COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE:
“IN-ACTION”
• Collaborative Healthcare is
approached differently depending on
the work place
• At the Community Wellness Centre
round-table meeting are held with
two family physicians and a nurse,
while on-site psychologist and
dietitian joined by phone.

6. COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE:
“IN-ACTION”
• These table meeting happen twice a day
• they gather in a meeting room and go through the list of
patients coming into the clinic.
• Potential treatment options are suggested by anyone
who can share their expertise.

7. COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE:
“IN-ACTION”
Benefits of Collaborative Healthcare
• A collaborative team cuts down on waiting times
• Gives a better doctor-patient connection
• Doctors look at one another for feedback when asked if
there are any challenges in their work environment

8. THE SYSTEMS APPROACH
• System Metaphor: Understanding of organization as complex organisms that must interact
with their environment to survive
• At the most basic level, a system “is an assemblage of parts, or components (Miller 61).”
• In an organizational system, these components are people and departments that make up
an organization

9. THE SYSTEMS APPROACH
System Components:
• Hierarchical ordering: Systems parts are arranged
in complex ways that involve subsystems and
super-systems
• Interdependence: The notion of interdependence
implies that the functioning of one component of
a system relies on other components of the
system
• Permeability: System components have permeable
boundaries that allow information and
materials to flow in and out.

10. THE SYSTEMS
APPROACH
System Process
• Systems have input, processes
outputs and outcomes, with
continuous feedback among
various parts. If one part of the
system is removed, the system
is changed.

11. THE SYSTEMS APPROACH
System Properties
Properties that emerge from the
interaction of components and
processes.
Holism: A system is more than the sum
of its parts; more and different problem
solving ideas will emerge through
interaction
Equability:A system can reach the
same final state from differing initial
conditions and by a variety of paths.

12. THE SYSTEMS APPROACH
~System Properties (Continued)~
• Negative entropy: Entropy is the tendency of closed systems to run down. Negative
entropy is possible because of the flow of information and materials between the
environment and the system.
• Requisite variety: The internal works of the system must be as diverse
and complicated as the environment in which it is embedded.

13. SYSTEM APPROACH AND
COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE
~The system approach concept can be applied throughout the entire article~
Dr. Mandi Irwin, a doctor at the Community Wellness Centre in Spryfield, states that all
cases are discussed together and all decisions are made collectively.
Interdependence: The notion of interdependence implies that the functioning of one
component of a system relies on other components of the system

14. THE SYSTEM APPROACH AND
COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE
The clinic go through the list of patients coming into the clinic. Treatment options are
suggested by anyone who can give their expertise and then matched with the most
appropriate person who can provide that care (Psychology, dietary/nutrition, social
work, etc.).
Holism: A system is more than the sum of its parts; more and different problem
solving ideas will emerge through interaction

15. THE SYSTEM APPROACH AND COLLABORATIVE
HEALTHCARE
Each patient has a different course of treatment depending on the condition/problem.
However, the final results are the same: a healthy/happy patient
Equability: A system can reach the same final state from differing initial
conditions and by a variety of paths.

16. THE SYSTEM APPROACH AND COLLABORATIVE
HEALTHCARE
In Collaborative Medicine, patient information is shared throughout the entire
practice, in order to better suit the patients needs.
Permeability: System components have permeable boundaries that allow information and
materials to flow in and out.

17. FURTHER DISCUSSION AND RESEARCH
Could Collaborative Healthcare work in the United States?
• Is the US healthcare system to profit driven to be able to
do collaborative healthcare?
• Does collaborative medicine break United States
doctor/patient confidentiality laws?

18. FURTHER DISCUSSION AND RESEARCH
Is it possible to lower the price of collaborative healthcare?
The article mentions that collaborative medicine is more expensive than most because it is hard to find doctors
who are willing to work in this unique environment
• Why are doctors apprehensive of this practice?
• Can the clinic cut down on specialist care in order to cut down on billing?

19. FURTHER DISCUSSION AND RESEARCH
• Is there a way for healthcare to be more personal?
• Is healthcare becoming more of a “machine” rather than
personable experience
• Is it possible to have a organizational system that is based around
customer service?

20. WORKS CITED
Miller, Katherine. Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes. Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth Pub., 1999. Print.
Panacci, Amanda "Collaborative Care: 'Health Homes' on the Rise; Could Alleviate Nova Scotia's
Doctor Shortage.” The Chronicle Herald. N.p., 9 Oct. 2016. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
Staff, Ana. "Collaborative Health Care: How Nurses Work in Team-Based Settings." Collaborative
Health Care: How Nurses Work in Team-Based Settings. N.p., Jan. 2016. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.